Stars top Marlies to even Calder Cup Finals

The next three games in the series are at the HEB Center, beginning with Game 3 Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The Stars beat the Toronto Marlies 2-1 in Game 2 of the Calder Cup Finals. The best-of-seven series is tied 1-1 and shifts to Texas beginning Tuesday at 7 p.m.

CHRISTIAN BONIN/TORONTO MARLIES

Posted
Sunday, June 3, 2018 4:00 pm

2018 Calder Cup Finals

Toronto Marlies vs. Texas Stars

Game 1 – Toronto 6, Texas 5

Game 2 – Texas 2, Toronto 1

Game 3 – Tue., June 5 – Toronto at Texas, 7 p.m.

Game 4 – Thu., June 7 – Toronto at Texas, 7 p.m.

Game 5 – Sat., June 9 – Toronto at Texas, 7 p.m.

*Game 6 – Tue., June 12 – Texas at Toronto, 6 p.m.

*Game 7 – Thu., June 14 – Texas at Toronto, 6 p.m.

*if necessary

By ZACH SMITH, HCN Sports Editor

Gavin Bayreuther’s power-play goal early in the third period gave that Stars a 2-1 win over the Toronto Marlies and even the Calder Cup Finals at one game apiece as the series shifts back to Texas.

Justin Dowling assisted on the play, shoveling a nifty pass behind his back to a wide-open Bayreuther at the blue line.

"We don't play each other (during the regular season) so we really didn't know what to expect but now we do and we're ready to get back to Austin," Bayreuther told Leafs Nation Network after the game.

It was the first home loss of the playoffs for the Marlies, a ten-game streak.

Texas goalie Mike McKenna stopped 21 of 22 shots in net to earn his 12th win of the postseason. The Stars outshot the Marlies 24-22, including holding Toronto to just four shots in the third period.

Toronto beat Texas 6-5 in a high-flying Game 1 on Saturday in which the Stars’ first line of Travis Morin, Curtis McKenzie and Dowling combined for four goals and five assists. The Marlies scored the game-winning goal with 10 minutes left in the third period.

The next three games will be in Texas and all begin at 7 p.m. Game 3 will be Tuesday, Game 4 will be on Thursday and Game 5 will be Saturday at HEB Center. If necessary, Games 6 and 7 would be next Tuesday and Thursday night in Canada.

Dowling had the best chance of the first period early in the game as an outlet pass by Dillon Heatherington sprung him behind the Toronto defense, but his shot went high and wide.

Ben Smith’s deflected shot with less than two minutes left in the frame gave Toronto the first lead of the game.

Curtis McKenzie got in behind the Toronto defense for the second straight game early in the second period and slotted a shot through Toronto goalie Garret Sparks’ legs to tie the game. Heatherington picked up an assist after once again picking out a Stars attacker.

Bayreuther scored his first goal of the Calder Cup Finals and second of the playoffs 4:31 into the third period.